Thomas Brogdale
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Thomas was the eldest son of William and Harriet Brogdale (née Bishop). His father William was born in Barton in Fabis in 1852, the son of Thomas and Harriet Brogdale. William was baptised at Barton in Fabis parish church of St George on 30 May 1852. His mother Harriet Bishop was also born in Barton in Fabis on 13 January, 1857. William and Harriet had one child before their marriage, Charlotte Bishop b. 1878 , who was baptised at St George on 25 August 1878 but who died aged 3 years 10 months in 1882 and buried in St George's churchyard on 26 May. William and Harriet were married at St George on 15 March 1880 and had eight more children, all of whom were born in Barton in Fabis and also baptised in the parish church: Alice b. 1881 bap. 3 April 1881; May b. 1883 bap. 17 June 1883; Lydia b. 1886 bap. 11 July 1886; Thomas b. 1888 bap. 20 May 1888; Ethel b. 1890 bap. 27 April 1890; Samuel b. 1893 bap. 2 April 1893; Harold Elliott b. 1895 bap. 11 August 1895 and Ernest William b. 1899 bap. 17 September 1899. In 1881 William (28) a plaster labourer, and Harriet (24) a dressmaker, were living at Clifton with Glapton, near Barton in Fabis, with their two daughters, Charlotte and Alice. Charlotte died the following year before her fourth birthday. William, now working as a gardener ('domestic'), and Harriet were still living in Clifton with Glapton in 1891 with their five children: Alice, May, Lydia, Thomas and Ethel. By 1901 the family was living on Village Street, Garbythorpe, near Barton in Fabis. William was a gardener ('not domestic'). Five of their surviving eight children were living at home: Thomas (12), Ethel (11), Samuel (9), Harold (6) and Ernest (1). Their three older daughters, Alice, May and Lydia, were all in service. Alice (21) was a domestic servant in Thrumpton in the household of John Turzell, a farmer, and his family; May (17) was an under-housemaid at Barton Lodge, Barton in Fabis, in the employ of Francis and Mabel Barton, who employed five indoor servants; Lydia (15) was a domestic servant for Rev. Casper Baker and his wife at Stanford Rectory, Stanford on Soar near Loughborough. By 1911 William and Harriet were living in Barton in Fabis with their two sons Harold, a farm labourer, and Ernest. Also in the home on the night of the census was their married daughter, Lydia Pottage, and her daughter Annie Evelyn. Lydia's husband, Herbert Ernest, a Prudential insurance agent, was in his parents' home in Scarborough on the night of the census. Two of their daughters, Alice (Smalley) and May (Hadnett), were married. Thomas (22) had joined the army and was serving with the 1st Bn South Staffordshire Regiment (Lt. Col. James Walker Sears) in Gibraltar. Ethel (22) was a kitchen maid at Picton Castle, Haverford West, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Samuel (18) was a compositor and a boarder on Truman Street, Alfred Street Central, Nottingham. William died aged 75 on 1 November 1927. In 1939 the widowed Harriet was living in at Ivy Cottage, Barton in Fabis. She died aged 93 on 17 February 1949 . Her second son, Samuel, had predeceased her. Ethel married Herbert Mountford in 1915 (reg. Colchester Essex). Herbert probably served in the war in the Royal Field Artillery (79764 Driver). They were living on Leake Road, Gotham, in 1939; Herbert was a pensioner 'disabled in the Great War'. Samuel joined the 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment (17472 Private, later L/Cpl) on 24 February 1915 and served in France from 9 June 1915. He suffered gunshot wounds to his right hand, head and left thigh on 3 October 1915 and was medically evacuated to England, arriving by 4 October. On recovering from his injuries he was transferred to the 1st HS Garrison Bn. Middlesex Regiment (28624 L/Cpl). He served at home until he was discharged on 27 July 1917, 'no longer physically fit for war service.' His discharge address was his parents' home in Barton in Fabis. Samuel married Annie Eliza Spreckley (něe Miller) in 1922. His wife had married Joseph Knight Spreckley in 1917. Her husband served in the Machine Gun Corps (104227 Private) and was killed on 27 May 1918. (See record on this Roll of Honour).
Thomas Brogdale joined the South Staffordshire Regiment before 1911 when he was serving with the 1st Bn. in Gibralter. He probably served with the BEF in France from 4 October 1914. Thomas was killed in action on 25 October 1914. Originally reported missing, his death was not confirmed until the following year. A photograph of Thomas and confirmation of his death, was published in a local paper on 8 September 1915. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemeterym Belgium (grave reference: LXV H 16). He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father William was his legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers: mother, Harriet. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 14 August 1915: ‘Brogdale. Killed in action, October 25th [1914], Private Thomas Brogdale, of the 1st South Staffordshire Regt., aged 23 years (late of Barton-in-Fabis). He gave his life to save others. Mother, brothers, sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 2 November 1927: ‘Brogdale. At Barton, November 1st, suddenly, William Brogdale, aged 75.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’ 16 January 1946: ‘Brogdale. On January 12th, Samuel, the beloved husband of Annie, and the dear father of Nancy, Peter and Jim [son-in-law]. Cremation Wilford Hill, Thursday, at 12 o’clock. 92 Exeter Road.’ (www/britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 February 1949:’Brogdale. February 17th, at her daughter’s home, Harriet fell asleep in her 94th year. Funeral Barton Church. Monday, 21st February, at 3pm. Only intimation to friends.’ (www.britishnewspaper.co.uk)
